Coming Home to Myself
The Journey That Created Juniper Sun
As a little girl growing up on my family’s homestead in Michigan, I was mesmerized by the earth’s quiet treasures—stones, feathers, pinecones, and the sparkling pebbles I collected from the shores of the Great Lakes. My happiest days were spent barefoot in the woods, picking blueberries from our family patch, swimming until the sun went down, or tending to our animals—sheep, rabbits, goats, chickens, peacocks, dogs, and cats. I was raised in a home where beauty was crafted with care, where my parents shaped so much of our lives from the land itself. That early connection to nature planted something deep inside of me: a sense of wonder, reverence, and belonging that never left.
But like many stories, mine includes a chapter of forgetting. In my early twenties, after graduating from college, I stepped into a demanding role as a general manager in hospitality—one that quickly drained me of the joy and magic I had once known. Around this same time, I suffered from a vaccine injury that deeply impacted my health. My nervous system was in constant overdrive. My body felt foreign and unsafe, and my spirit struggled to feel seen in the traditional medical system. When one doctor suggested antidepressants without even hearing my full story, I knew I had to find another path. One that would honor all of me—mind, body, and spirit.
That path began with yoga. It gave my anxious mind something to anchor into. Meditation, prayer, and journaling followed, and I felt most safe being held in the fresh lake water, soaking up the sun, and moving my body in intuitive ways— this included a lot of yoga and dancing. Soon, I started working with a homeopathic doctor who helped me heal through remedies rooted in nature. It was then that I remembered: the earth holds medicine. She wants us to thrive. And I began to feel it again—that call toward a life of meaning, simplicity, and soulful connection. So I listened. I quit my job and moved to Aspen with my best friend. And the mountains, quite literally, saved me.
Snowboarding through back bowls, biking scenic roads, soaking in rivers—I found my way back to awe. My body came alive. My creativity woke up. I started dreaming about how to share this feeling—this grounded, expansive presence—with others in a tangible way. That’s when Juniper Sun was born. At first, it was a simple seed: a desire to work with my hands and create something that carried the beauty and energy of the natural world. During COVID, I returned home to Michigan and finally had the time to bring it to life. I began working with stones, learning the healing properties of each crystal, and building my first website.
In September 2020, I returned to Aspen and worked at a fine art gallery while continuing to grow my jewelry business. I started leaning into a southwestern turquoise style that felt so true to me—and eventually, my jewelry was featured in the gallery itself. Around that time, I also completed my yoga teacher training in Costa Rica, a deeply spiritual experience that taught me to see the human body as a vessel for the soul. When I moved to Carbondale in 2022, I found a sanctuary at True Nature Healing Arts—a place of peace, community, and profound inspiration. There, I sold my jewelry, worked the front desk, and was immersed in a holistic environment centered around transformation, purpose, and deep presence. At the same time, i moved into a shared home on a stunning river property, and it blossomed into a beautiful space to deepen into community, my craft, and the rich land around me. My jewelry was being displayed in 4 stores throughout the valley, and life felt pretty sweet.
The next season of life sparked a new calling. I wanted to offer more than adornment—I wanted to offer healing through touch. Encouraged by my friends and the nurturing spa environment at True Nature, I enrolled in massage school. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Becoming a massage therapist aligned so beautifully with who I am: sensitive, intuitive, deeply caring, and attuned to the quiet wisdom of the body.
Massage, for me, is sacred work. It’s a moment to return to the beginning—before the stress, the trauma, the tension. It’s a space where I meet each person with presence and compassion, guided by intuition, listening not just with my hands, but with my heart. It is physical, yes—but also emotional, energetic, and deeply spiritual. It is a gift I feel honored to give. It has also brought me even closer with my own wellness practices. For the gift I give, there is a greater need to fill my own cup first. It has been a humbling, and sometimes, a very tough journey, but it adds to the reverence.
Today, I live on a horse ranch in Durango, where I continue to deepen my relationship with the land and animals, expand my creative mediums, and study the somatic language of the body. Juniper Sun has grown with me—from jewelry to massage to a lifestyle rooted in intentional living, connection to spirit, and honoring the healing power of nature.
